Neilyherry Plants. 151 



this object, will furnish very sufficient secondary circles. The zoned 

 angiosperms, Zonagens, may then perhaps be found to represent the 

 typical circle, the parallel or analogy of Mammalia ; the Homogens 

 the sub-typical, the parallel of Birds ; while the Gymnogens, the 

 Rhyzanths (Hysterogens), and Podostemons (Protogens), would unite 

 to form the aberrant circle. In this case the 1st would represent in 

 the Exogenous circle, and have for its analogies in the general 

 system of plants, the Dicotyledons : the 2nd the Monocotyledons : the 

 3d the Acrobrya or ferns : the 4th Hysterophyta or Fungi, and the 

 last the Protophyta or sea-weeds. Here we have a series of ap- 

 parently circular groups, all based on anatomical structure and physio- 

 logical peculiarities, without reference to the anatomy of the seed, 

 except in so far as regards the embryo. Whether these, when pro- 

 perly analysed, will prove perfect circles, is a point still to be ascer- 

 tained. It is a difficult enquiry, and the whole subject is far too 

 deeply involved in obscurity for me to offer any opinion in anticipa- 

 tion, beyond the passing remark, that these groups have a circular 

 appearance, and give promise that, though they may not supply all 

 we want, yet that their thorough investigation may put us on the 

 right path, and speedily enable us to reach the long and anxiously 

 sought for goal. 



Endogens have a stem increasing in thickness by additions of new 

 matter to the centre, made up of vascular and cellular tissue, without 

 distinction of pith, wood, medullary rays, or bark : the cellular tissue 

 being traversed by bundles of vessels, often, as in all the arboreous 

 forms, palms, the surface first becoming hard and woody or as it 

 were crustaceous. Leaves with parallel veins connected by smaller 

 transverse ones, usually sheathing at the base and not readily se- 

 parating by articulation. Flowers usually ternary, with both calyx 

 and corolla, but sometimes both series so closely resembling each 

 other in colour, size, texture, and form, as to be undistinguishable ; 

 or occasionally they are imperfect or altogether wanting. Seed in a 

 pericarp. Embryo furnished with albumen or rarely exalbuminous, 

 with one cotyledon, or if more, alternate, (not opposite as in dicoty- 

 ledons) the radicle enclosed within the embryo through which it 

 bursts in germination. 



From this general description it would appear there is an uniformity 

 of structure of both the vegetation and seed, little favourable to the 

 formation of well-defined groups. This however on closer inspection 

 is not found to be the case as regards the habit and vegetation of 



